After each KU basketball game this season, this is where you can find out the hardwood equivalent of The Nielsen Ratings from Journal-World sports editor Tom Keegan. He’ll rate the Jayhawk scholarship players’ individual performances, telling you who was worth tuning in to watch. If you agree or maybe even differ, make sure to comment and tell Tom how you really feel. (Scoring: Each week, the top player in the ratings will be awarded 10 points. Second best gets nine points. Third best gets eight points, and so on and so on. The season standings are at the bottom.)
1. Marcus Morris: Did it all in the final eight minutes of the first half, playing his best stretch of basketball for Kansas. Was extremely aggressive and played smart basketball down the stretch. Finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals.
2. Cole Aldrich: Good things happen when the ball is fed to a big man with good hands and a soft touch. Had 21 points, seven boards, two assists and a blocked shot. Made all five free throws and jacked up his team with a slam on a pass from half court from Sherron Collins.
3. Sherron Collins: Made some bad mistakes in allowing himself to get trapped repeatedly late in the game, but for the most part made sure his team stayed in attack mode and finished with 19 points, six assists and five turnovers.
4. Brady Morningstar: Made all four three-point attempts and contributed four rebounds and two steals.
5. Tyshawn Taylor: Played well during KU’s 28-13 finish to the first half.
6. Tyrel Reed: Made all four free throw attempts in a rare start, but was able to get off only two three-point shots, making one.
7. Travis Releford: Cuts hard to the hoop and knows how to finish when he gets the pass. A shaky ballhandler and free-throw shooter, he helps to counteract those deficiencies by energizing the team. Scored four points and had two turnovers in five minutes.
8. Quintrell Thomas: Turned offensive rebound into one point at the free-throw line.
9. Tyrone Appleton: Gave the team an extra ball-handler against K-State’s pressure defense.
10. Markieff Morris: Not his day, which was why he played just five minutes.
11. Mario Little: Not his day, which was why he played just nine minutes.
The Keegan Ratings: Season Standings (total points)
T1. Sherron Collins (216 points)
T1. Cole Aldrich (216 points)
3. Tyshawn Taylor (162 points)
4. Brady Morningstar (156 points)
5. Tyrel Reed (136 points)
6. Marcus Morris (131 points)
7. Markieff Morris (114 points)
8. Travis Releford (88 points)
9. Mario Little (70 points)
10. Quintrell Thomas (53 points)
11. Tyrone Appleton (26 points)
The Keegan Ratings: Conference Standings (total points)
1. Cole Aldrich (84 points)
2. Sherron Collins (82 points)
3. Brady Morningstar (66 points)
T4. Mario Little (60 points)
T4. Tyshawn Taylor (60 points)
6. Tyrel Reed (52 points)
T7. Marcus Morris (51 points)
8. Markieff Morris (42 points)
9. Travis Releford (31 points)
10. Quintrell Thomas (11 points)
11. Tyrone Appleton (7 points)